The Readers Room

Conferences, Workshops, and Awards

Conferences

Hardboiled Heroes and Cozy Cats:
A Seminar to Help You Write and Sell in Any Mystery Subgenre
Sponsored by the Mystery Writers of America, Southwest Region.

Saturday, June 21, 8:30 a.m. to 4;30 p.m.

Holiday Inn-Katy Freeway (I-10)
(just west of the 610 Loop, between Silber and Antoine)

"Hardboiled Heroes and Cozy Cats will help you get started, keep writing for the long haul, and get your work published, regardless of your mystery genre -- police procedurals, private eys, amateur sleuths, locked room murders, legal thrillers, or cozies with cats and recipes."

Speakers include:

* Edgar-winning author Rick Riordan of San Antonio
* Jane Friedman, Managing Editor of Writer's Digest magazine
* New York literary agent Nancy Love
* Agatha-nominated author Barbara Burnett Smith of Austin
* Deborah Elliott-Upton, Amarillo College writing instructor, short story and features author
Features: a panel discussion: What's It Like To Cross The Line?
First-time novelists discuss what to expect when your book is published.
Panelists: MWA/SW members Kay Finch, Leann Sweeney, Rosemary Poole-Carter, Barbara Colley, and Edgar-nominated Ben Rehder. Moderated by Julie Herman.

Contest: Eager to test your skills at writing the dreaded synopsis? Enter our synopsis contest, open only to conference participants. Author of the best 5-7 page mystery novel synopsis will win a $100 prize.

Cost: the all-day seminar, including Continental breakfast and full luncheon, will be $75 for MWA members; $80 nonmembers. After May 24, the cost increases to $80 MWA members; $85 nonmembers. After June 14, the cost will be $90 for everybody.

Registration -- request a registration form via e-mail from Seminar Manager Amy Sharp, asharp1@houston.rr.com. Registration forms are hardcopy, so include your postal mailing address.